BBC has confirmed that Ncuti Gatwa will be the next incarnation of The Doctor in the hit show Doctor Who.

The Rwanda-born actor is perhaps best known by fans for his role in Netflix's sitcom Sex Education, but will now be traveling through time and space in the TARDIS as the fourteenth leading actor to play the beloved Doctor.

He will replace current Doctor Jodie Whittaker in a special episode set to air later this year. Whittaker first took over as the Time Lord back in 2017 - becoming the first female Doctor.

Gatwa, 29, will be the first non-white lead actor to play the famous Time Lord, and he has said that he is "deeply honored, beyond excited, and of course a little bit scared" at the casting.

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Per BBC News, Gatwa added: "This role and show means so much to so many around the world, including myself, and each one of my incredibly talented predecessors has handled that unique responsibility and privilege with the utmost care.

"I will endeavor my utmost to do the same."

As the Fourteenth Doctor, Gatwa will join the show's previous lead actors William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann, Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi, and Jodie Whittaker.

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John Hurt also famously played a version of the Time Lord on three occasions on-screen. Known as the War Doctor, he is the incarnation that battled in the Time War in the time between McGann and Eccleston.

Actors Jo Martin and Peter Cushing are just some of the other actors to have played versions of the Doctor.

Current showrunner Russell T Davies said that Gatwa "dazzled" the show's execs during his audition.

Davies added: "Sometimes talent walks through the door and it's so bright and bold and brilliant, I just stand back in awe and thank my lucky stars."

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After the news was announced, Twitter users have been voicing their support for Gatwa.

"Ncuti Gatwa is so good on SEX EDUCATION, a lightning rod of charm and comedic timing. A star from the moment he popped on screen. He’s going to be phenomenal as the next Doctor," wrote movie critic Robert Daniels.

"Congratulations to Ncuti Gatwa on becoming the new Dr Who. Great to see success of this young Scottish acting talent and graduate of Royal Conservatoire of Scotland," wrote Scottish MP Angus Robertson.

Doctor Who first hit television screens back in 1963. Since its inception, there have been 870 episodes of the show, as well as three movies (1965, 1966, and 1996).

Featured image credit: PA Images / Alamy

Ncuti Gatwa confirmed as the next actor to play Doctor Who